Though BMC is trying to beautify areas under 23 flyovers to add them under 'open spaces in city,' it has failed to take over 27 open spaces from private stockholders in the past three years. Most of these open spaces are with political party leaders and despite several attempts, the civic body has failed to take them back.
The initiative to beautify areas under 23 flyovers covers an area of around 27,023 square metre. The area under 27 open spaces that is with private trusts is more than 3 lakh square metre. The BMC is spending a sum of Rs 14 crore to beautify spaces under flyovers that — if clubbed — is equal to one forth of the Oval Maidan but. However, the BMC failed to take over its own land as the common denied them entry. Most of these plots are in the western suburbs between Dahisar to Kandivali. The spaces include; Poisar Sports Club in Kandivali west, Veer Savarkar Garden in Borivali west, Payde Sports Club in Kandivli east, St Xavier's playground in Parel and the Raosaheb Patwardhan Udyan in Bandra among others.
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had given 216 open spaces (gardens, playgrounds etc) to private institutes on lease. In 2015, the civic body came up with a proposal to renew the lease policy but, due to strong opposition from citizens and activists, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed the policy and ordered to take all open spaces back. The BMC started taking action and sending notices to respective associations. It even went to court for some spaces and managed to get back only 189 plots. Twenty-seven open spaces are still with private players.
Environmentlist Rishi Agrawal said,"The open space ratio per person in the city is already dicey. There are only a few green open spaces in city and citizens have every right to enter in those. The BMC should act strictly to take these plots back as early as possible."
"We have sent notices to private trusts and have taken over 189 plots. There isn't further development," said Kishore Kshirsagar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Gardens).
CLAIM TO FREE SPACE
ACTIVISTS SAY GETTING BACK OPEN LAND A MUST FOR BMC
216 - Open Spaces with private trusts in 2016
189 - Open plots taken over by BMC till Oct 2018
27 - Gardens, playgrounds with private trusts
CURRENT STATUS
27,075 square metre - area being beautified by BMC under 23 flyovers
3,50K square metre - Area of 27 plots with private trusts
CITY’S REPORT CARD
737 - Total number of gardens
305 - Total number of playgrounds
1.28 square metre per person - Open Space ratio as per Development Plan
4 Ideal ratio of open space - 4 square metre per person
BMC IS PLANNING TO ADD
25 - gardens
16 - playgrounds
in next 14 years
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